Metroid Ravenous has everyone hunting for Dread - and sealed copies now cost a fortune

I knew it would happen the second Samus showed up again. Somebody at a family lunch hears "new Metroid in 2027", goes "wait, I never finished the last one", and suddenly everyone wants Metroid Dread. Honestly? Same. That's a lovely thing. The not-so-lovely part is what it's doing to physical copies.

According to Nintendo Life, the reveal of Metroid Ravenous, a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive due in 2027, has given the 2021 Switch game a real second wind. Dread has been climbing the eShop charts in recent weeks, and demand has spilled over onto the physical version too - which is officially out of print. Sealed copies are reportedly going for well above the $100 mark.

Over $100. For a game that came out five years ago. I love a shiny cartridge on the shelf as much as anyone (my nephew and I have a whole little Nintendo corner going), but that number made me wince.

So let me be the friend who grabs your sleeve before you hit "buy": if you just want to *play* Dread before Ravenous arrives, the digital version on the eShop is right there, and that's exactly where lots of people are picking it up. Nobody's going to check whether your Samus came in a box. And if you're a collector who absolutely wants it sealed, maybe give it a little time - hype spikes like this tend to cool once the first rush of excitement passes, and paying scalper-style prices mostly rewards people sitting on stock.

Which brings me to Nintendo. This is exactly the moment for a reprint. You've got a brand-new Metroid coming, a whole wave of newcomers curious about the series, and a beloved game that people can't find on store shelves. A fresh run of Dread cartridges would be kind to fans, kind to families buying gifts, and, let's be real, not exactly bad for business either. Letting the secondhand market decide who gets to own a physical copy never feels great.

One small heads-up for newcomers: Dread is gorgeous and tense, but it's not a gentle stroll. The E.M.M.I. chases will make your palms sweat. If you're coming in fresh, go in expecting to die a bit, and enjoy the moment it all clicks - because when it does, it really does.

I'm just happy people are excited about Metroid again. I only wish that excitement didn't come with such a steep price tag attached.

Image: Evan-Amos / Public domain, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nintendo-Switch-Cartridge.jpg